The Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia acknoŵledges that in-depth studies of maternity services is essential to effectively improve the health system. Apparently, ongoing privatization movements particularly in the maternity service sector, make such studies critical. Mainly because the results will reveal the factors affecting childbirth, the most basic service provided by healthcare facilities.
Childbirth is widely recognized as the most common interaction between women and the public or private healthcare system. The general satisfaction of pregnant women over the actual care and services received during the birthing process is a clear indicator if there are gaps between the quality of maternity services provided by public and private facilities.
Study Compares Childbirth Services of Two Saudi Arabian National Guard Hospitals
A qualitative study by way of 78 semi structured interviews was conducted to better understand the main issues affecting the child birthing process experienced by pregnant women in public and private sections of two selected National Guard Hospitals.
The interviews revealed three major areas of concern, hospitals, doctors and nurses. First off, the study results revealed that women who gave birth in the public section of a hospital had issues about lack of privacy. It would be easy to surmise that cleanliness and hygiene are also issues, notwithstanding that in Jeddah, any شركة تنظيف المنازل في جدة or cleaning company can provide cost effective cleaning services.
Moreover, the respondents in the public sector study revealed that overall, women who gave birth in the public maternity wards received mediocre medical attention from nurses and doctors.
Hospital-Based Study to Identify Factors Affecting Quality of Prenatal Care in Saudi Healthcare Facilities
Another study, also by way of structured questionnaire, was conducted to determine the factors facilitating or preventing pregnant women from receiving prenatal checkups. Prenatal or antenatal care is essential because pregnant women can receive proper micronutrient supplementation and treatments for health problems commonly associated with pregnancy. In Saudi Arabia, antenatal care includes anti-tetanus immunization and HIV testing.
The hospital-based study revealed that the most common personal barriers preventing pregnant women from receiving antenatal care is lack of transportation and fear of medical examinations. Other factors are deemed as structural barriers such as inconvenient clinic hours and dissatisfaction with previous prenatal care. An important measure recommended in removing these antenatal barriers is to maintain effective communication between pregnant patients and hospital staff.
According to the Ministry of Health, the current situations revealed by these studies serve as important information to Saudi Arabian policymakers in their bid to improve the country’s health-care system; including the medical services rendered to patients in both public and private wards.